Top Ten Hospital Technology Issues: C-Suite Watch List for 2009 and Beyond

Anthony J. Montagnolo, M.S., Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, ECRI Institute, presents an overview of ECRI Institute’s recently published emerging health technologies research paper.   This not-for-profit research institute studies and compares the efficacy of similar drugs and devices, and identifies key technologies to monitor.  Attend to understand the benefits and shortcomings of expensive, high-profile technologies and determine how best to allocate capital budgets for new investments.  Included is a succinct overview of the Top 10 key technologies and trends for the coming year, including electronic health record systems, ultrahigh-field-strength MRI and premium-slice CT imaging machines, physician-preference items and radiation oncology equipment.  Recommendations cover EHR implementations, benchmarking costs of physician preference items, and monitoring the clinical outcome findings and reimbursement policies of payers for proton therapy oncology systems.